[HBP#27] - Faye Davies - Rescuing Britain's Forgotten Buildings

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on - Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and any of your other favourite podcasting apps!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast!In this episode, host Vincent Reed speaks with Faye Davies, a RIBA-registered specialist conservation architect at Burrell Foley Fisher Architects, a London practice with over 40 years of experience in historic building conservation. Faye shares her journey into heritage architecture and her work adapting at-risk and listed buildings for modern, sustainable use.The discussion explores creative conservation, including how complex historic sites like medieval guild halls and roundhouses are unlocked through heritage statements, client education, and practical problem-solving. Faye also reflects on major projects including York Guild Hall and Birmingham Roundhouse, alongside wider challenges in the sector such as training, sustainability, and unqualified contractors.Topics covered include:RIBA conservation architecture and career pathways in historic building preservationCreative conservation strategies for adapting at-risk heritage buildingsProtecting and reusing listed buildings while meeting modern sustainability standardsReal-world conservation case studies: York Guild Hall restoration and Birmingham Roundhouse conservationWriting heritage statements and navigating planning, archaeology, and budgetsCommon challenges in the heritage sector, including unqualified contractors and skills shortagesSustainable conservation approaches for medieval, Tudor, and 20th-century buildingsProfessional advice for conservation architects, heritage consultants, and historic property ownersThis episode is essential viewing for heritage professionals, conservation architects, RIBA members, historic building owners, planners, and anyone passionate about preserving UK heritage buildings through sustainable and creative conservation.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestampsClick the time on the left to jump straight to that section00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:30 Faye's Path to Architecture04:15 Falling into Historic Buildings07:00 Covent Garden Slum Stories09:45 RIBA Conservation Specialist Training14:20 Wide Portfolio: Tudor to 20th Century18:30 Repurposing At-Risk Buildings22:00 Sustainability in Conservation25:15 Practice Overview (43 Years, Nationwide)29:00 Heritage Statements & Industry Challenges35:45 Client Battles and Mediation41:00 York Guild Hall Project Deep Dive50:30 Budgets, Archaeology, and Wins56:15 Winning Tenders: Enthusiasm & Vision1:02:00 Birmingham Roundhouse Restoration1:07:30 Craftsmen Shortage & Training1:12:45 Final Thoughts and Advice---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Faye Davies and learn more:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fayewatsondavies/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daviesvsdavies/Website: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:https://heritagebuildingsassociation.comJoin the conversation:https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual#RIBAConservation #BirminghamRoundhouse #YorkGuildhall